Hilton Head Island - Burkes Beach

Source Information

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) monitors water quality at beaches on the coast from mid-May to mid-October. Water samples are collected weekly at the most popular beaches and every two weeks at other beaches. Results are posted to the DHEC website. Disclaimer: There is often a noticeable gap between the time that samples are collected and the time that water quality results are posted online. If you live in South Carolina, local media may have the most up-to-date information about serious swimming advisories. Swim Guide checks the DHEC beach advisory website at daily during the monitoring season to ensure the information we show you matches information reported by the state. A beach is marked Green when there are fewer than 104 units of Enterococci per 100 ml of water for 2 samples of water collected within 24 hours. A beach is marked Red when there are more than 104 units of Enterococci per 100 ml of water for 2 samples of water collected within 24 hours or when a single sample exceeds 500 units / 100 ml A beach is marked Grey when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available. Please note that there is a permanent advisory near some swimming areas cautioning beach goers to avoid the water after heavy rainfall when bacteria levels may be higher than normal. According to the SDHEC: Swimming is not advised within 200 feet on either side of the sign when water is flowing, and especially after rain. Wading, fishing, and shell collecting are not a risk unless you have open sores or lesions.